The final straw. Already frustrated in his interview with Sheep Esports last week, Adam “Adam” Maanane once again voiced his disappointment on Sunday, just moments after Rogue’s defeat against SK Gaming. “We're the clowns of the LEC, there's no other word for it,” the toplaner wrote on X. His frustration was justified by the fact that this latest loss officially sealed the team’s elimination from the Winter Split regular season.

Indeed, ahead of the final matchday on Monday, Rogue sat at the bottom of the LEC standings with just one win and seven losses, tied with SK. With two fewer victories than BDS and Heretics, Adam and his teammates are now mathematically out of contention for a top-eight finish, which would have secured them a playoff spot. In his post, the French player also noted that this marks the first time since the introduction of the current format that he has failed to progress beyond the regular season.

Still convincing

In 2023, and even more so in 2024, Adam had grown accustomed to competing at the top of the standings while playing for BDS. He reached the Spring 2023 final and secured third place in all three splits of the 2024 season. On an individual level, he remains one of the few bright spots for Rogue, as demonstrated by his performance on Jayce against G2 Esports on Saturday. Despite his team’s defeat, Adam finished with a 5-0 scoreline and a Sheep Score of 92/100.